The surname Pruitts is derived from the Middle English word "prou," meaning "brave," or "valiant," with the addition of either of two common diminutive suffixes: "-et" or "-ot." As such, this name is thought to have originally been a nickname for someone small, but brave.

Early Origins of the Pruitts family

The surname Pruitts was first found in Carmarthenshire (Welsh: Sir Gaerfyrddin), located in Southwest Wales, one of thirteen historic counties and presently one of the principal area in Wales, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Pruitts family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Pruitts research.Another 222 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1202, 1278, 1558 and 1599 are included under the topic Early Pruitts History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Pruitts Spelling Variations

The Welsh have an extremely large amount of spelling variations of their native surnames to their credit. It was up to the priest or the scribe taking the official records to determine how the spoken name was to be made literal. As time progressed, the old Brythonic names of Wales were recorded in English, which was especially problematic since the English language had extreme difficulty recording the highly inflected sounds of Cymraeg. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations could be indicated by spelling variations of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Pruitts have included Pruett, Prewitt, Prewett, Pruet, Prewert and others.

Early Notables of the Pruitts family (pre 1700)

Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Pruitts Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pruitts family to Ireland

Some of the Pruitts family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.Another 125 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Pruitts family to the New World and Oceana

During the latter half of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the people of Wales journeyed to North America to find a new life. They made major contributions to the arts, industry and commerce of both Canada and the United States, and added a rich cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. A look at the immigration and passenger lists has shown a number of people bearing the name Pruitts: Thomas Prewitt, who settled in Virginia in 1636; Ann Prewett settled in Jamaica in 1663 with her husband; William Pruett settled in Rappahannock Virginia in 1729.

The Pruitts Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.